The film is directed by Ryan Coogler from a screenplay by him and Joe Robert Cole, and stars Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa /Black Panther, alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.

Hailed as a big change for Marvel approach on their superhero franchise, MCU recently released some fun facts about the story.

>> Marvel’s Black Panther character made his debut in the comic book world in “Fantastic Four Vol 1” Issue 52, published in 1966.

>> An important part of the Black Panther lore incorporated into the film is the Dora Milaje, the cadre of strong fierce women who serve as the personal security force to the King and royal family. These tall, statuesque, bald-headed warrior women, who move as one, command attention wherever they go.

>> Led by Danai Gurira’s character, Okoye, the Dora Milaje security force features an international contingent of women from all over the world, including Florence Kasumba who returns to play Ayo, a character that first appeared in Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Civil War”. The Dora Milaje were cast from a pool of actresses, stunt women and Broadway dancers so that each individual Dora could have specialised skills that they brought to the table.

>> It was decided early on that Xhosa, one of the official languages of South Africa, would be the language of Wakanda. A precedent had been set in Marvel Studios’ “Captain America: Civil War”, when celebrated South African actor John Kani, who portrayed King T’Chaka, used his native accent. Chadwick Boseman, who plays T’Challa/Black Panther, picked it up from him as well.

>> The cast and stunt team practised with African drums played by musician Jabari Exum so that their movements would have a musical quality found in many African-based martial arts.

>> Actor Daniel Kaluuya learned how to ride a horse as practice to simulate riding W’Kabi’s armoured rhino in the film.

>> Young Zuri is played by Denzel Whitaker. While he shares the same last name with Forest Whitaker, who plays the older Zuri, they are not related. However, they did play father and son in Denzel Washington’s “The Great Debaters.”

>> South African actor Atandwa Kani plays the character of Young T’Chaka to his father and celebrated South African actor John Kani’s King T’Chaka.

>> The cast did the bulk of the fight work that will be seen on film. Chadwick Boseman, whose skill set includes a comprehensive martial arts background, knew what he was in for when he and all the other actors had to attend a “boot camp” to prepare them for the physical aspects of their roles.

>> Michael B. Jordan, who plays Erik Killmonger, spent about two and a half hours in the special effects makeup chair every day, while makeup designer Joel Harlow and three other makeup artists applied close to 90 individually sculpted silicone moulds to his upper body. This “scarification” application process entails transferring each mould and then blending and painting them to match Jordan’s skin tone. Each of Killmonger’s scars represents a “notch” of his kills over the years.

>> The majority of the Wakanda sets were constructed on sound stages at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, including the Tribal Council; the Wakandan Design Group, Shuri’s hive of research and development of the vibranium rich country; the ancient subterranean Hall of Kings; and most notably Warrior Falls, the ceremonial heart of Wakanda’s revered traditions.

The entire cliff wall of the Warrior Falls, including the CG and practically built set, is 35 metres

Over 25,000 cubic feet of foam was used in the Warrior Falls set, which was sculpted to match the rocks in Oribi Gorge in South Africa.

>> The bottom of the Warrior Falls’ Challenge Pool was padded for the stunt team, but still looked like rock. The production crew also had to formulate a surface that was rough enough to not be too slippery in bare feet, but not so rough that it hurt to land on it.

>> On the Warrior Falls set, the stunt team had to rig all of the cliff faces with mountain climbing gear to safely secure all of the extras on the cliff faces.

>> The production team engineered a fully functional flowing waterfall and pool at the ledge of the cliff with six large submersible pumps feeding over 125,000 gallons of temperature-controlled water piping up through the set at a rate of 30,000 gallons per minute before recirculating through the system.

>>The high-speed car action for the Casino sequence was filmed on location in the bustling coastal city of Busan, South Korea. For almost two weeks, “Black Panther’s” action unit descended upon the coastal city nestled against the foothills of Geumjeong Mountain to film the thrilling, mind-blowing chase sequence through such iconic sites as Gwangalli Beach and the Haeundae District.

>> Director Ryan Coogler wanted the South Korea action sequence to be seamless, so he had an editor on set cutting footage in real time. This is not often done during production, but Coogler felt it was the best way to capture all the action, stunts and special effects in frame on time.

The movie, chronicling a grieving mother’s campaign for justice, won for original screenplay and outstanding British film, while Frances McDormand bagged best actress and Sam Rockwell best supporting actor prizes.

“The Shape of Water” — the most heavily nominated film of the night with 12 nods — came away with only three awards, including best director for Guillermo Del Toro, while “Darkest Hour” claimed two prizes, including for Gary Oldman as best actor.

With Hollywood still reeling from the fallout of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, the resulting anti-sexual harassment campaigns were reflected in the mood of the evening.

“Our film is a hopeful one in lots of ways but it’s also an angry one,” Martin McDonagh, writer and director of “Three Billboards”, said in his acceptance speech.

“And as we’ve seen this year, sometimes anger is the only way to get people to listen and to change, so we’re thrilled that Bafta has recognised this.”

Stars arrived at London’s Royal Albert Hall predominantly dressed in black in solidarity with the #MeToo and “Time’s Up” campaigns, mirroring other recent American red carpets including last month’s Golden Globes.

Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence and Kristin Scott Thomas were among the stars who wore black.

British royals avoid making overtly political statements or gestures, so there was little suprise when the Duchess of Cambridge chose to wear a dark green dress, by British designer Jenny Packham, as she accompanied husband Prince William, president of Bafta, to the ceremony.

‘Brave revelations’

Jane Lush, chair of Bafta, opened the evening soberly telling the star-studded audience it was important to acknowledge a “difficult” past year, and noted efforts to tackle gender inequality.

“Brave revelations have followed brave revelations of bullying and sexual harassment, and which to all our shame has been hidden in plain sight for decades,” she said.

“This is a moment in history, it should be a watershed, a catalyst for lasting change.”

Host Joanna Lumley, a British film and TV star, also praised the gender equality movement as a continuation of the work of the Suffragettes a century ago.

She hailed the “determination to eradicate the abuse of women the world over” as she took to the stage.

Meanwhile in an open letter published Sunday before the awards, almost 200 British and Irish stars backed a new fund to help women facing sexual harassment and abuse at work.

It echoes a similar initiative launched in Hollywood last month, and was kick-started with a £1 million (1.13 million euro, $1.4 million) donation from actress and activist Emma Watson.

– ‘Thank you, Sir Winston’ –

Choices at the Baftas, which fall between the Globes and the Oscars, often mirror those of the American heavyweights.

“The Shape of Water”, a story of love between a mute cleaning woman and a mystery merman-like creature, led the pack just as it has across the Atlantic, where it has topped the list of Oscar nominations with 13 nods, including for best picture.

As well as director del Toro’s award for direction, composer Alexandre Desplat collected the original music award — his third BAFTA win — and the film also won best production design.

Allison Janney won best supporting actress for her role as the mother of controversial figure skater Tonya Harding in biopic “I, Tonya”.

“I loved doing this crazy part and finding her humanity, that’s what I try and do in all roles,” she said backstage.

Gary Oldman’s turn as Churchill in “Darkest Hour” has so far won him a Golden Globe, a Bafta and the chance of an Oscar on March 4.

He paid tribute to the wartime British leader, saying: “In those dark, uncertain days in 1940, he held the line for honour, for integrity and freedom for his nation and the world, so I thank you, Sir Winston.”

Accepting her best actress accolade, McDormand, who chose not to wear black, quoted her on-screen character who has “a little trouble with compliance”.

“But I want you to know I stand in full solidarity with my sisters tonight in black,” she added.

According to figures from industry tracker Exhibitor Relations, the highly-anticipated 18th entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe earned $192 million over Friday, Saturday and Sunday — exceeding predictions of $170 million.

Thanks to Presidents’ Day in the US on Monday, “Black Panther’s” estimated earnings were boosted to a stratospheric $218 million — crushing “Deadpool’s” 2016 Presidents’ Day record of $152.1 million.

The film, from Disney-owned Marvel Studios, features a star-studded, almost entirely black cast led by Chadwick Boseman as the first non-white superhero to get his own stand-alone movie in the franchise.

Starring alongside Michael B Jordan and Lupita Nyong’o, Boseman plays the titular superhero also known as T’Challa, king and protector of the technologically advanced fictional African nation of Wakanda, an affluent, never-colonized utopia.

In at second was family-friendly “Peter Rabbit,” based on Beatrix Potter’s classic children’s book. Mixing live actors with computer-generated animation, it brought in an estimated $22.1 million over the holiday weekend for total earnings of $53.1 million.

James Corden voices the lead bunny which feuds with garden owner Domhnall Gleeson for the affections of sweet-hearted neighbor Rose Byrne.

Dropping to third was last week’s box office champion, Universal’s “Fifty Shades Freed,” with takings of $19 million, down from $38.6 million the previous week.

Starring Dakota Johnson as English lit major-turned-publisher Anastasia Steele and Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey, her kinky lover-turned-husband, “Freed” is the last of the “Fifty Shades” trilogy, which has enjoyed massive popularity among primarily female audiences.

Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” placed fourth in its ninth week in theaters, matching last week’s earnings with $10 million.

Featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black, the family film tells the tale of a group of teens transported inside a video game world.

Director Clint Eastwood’s “The 15:17” dropped two places into fifth, taking $9 million.

The film recounts the story of three young Americans who foiled a terrorist attack on board a train in France in 2015. In an alternative approach that divided critics, Eastwood cast the three men — none of whom had any acting experience — to play themselves.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

“The Greatest Showman” ($6.3 million)

“Early Man” ($4.2 million)

“Maze Runner: The Death Cure” ($3 million)

“Winchester” ($2.7 million)

“Samson” ($2.4 million)

 First up is the Polish film “Vinci”. Released in 2004 and directed by Directed by Juliusz Machulski, the film is a thriller, comedy, drama, all rolled into one, centering on the planned heist of a major painting of Leonardo Da Vinci “Lady with an Ermine” which has been returned from Japan to the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow. Art thief Cuma (Robert Wieckiewicz) asks his friend Julian (Borys Szyc), a former colleague, for help without knowing that Julian is now a police officer. Julian goes along with Cuma’s plans for the theft, but meanwhile plots to switch the painting for a reproduction, so that the precious original will not be not lost. He consults old forger Hagen (Jan Machulski), who assigns the task of making a copy to talented student Magda (Kamila Baar).

The ambassador of the Republic of Poland, Waldemar Dubaniowski, will introduce the film. The Embassy will also serve drinks and snacks, after the screening. The film shows in room 201 on the second floor of River City Bangkok. Admission is free.

For reservations, email rcbfilmclub@gmail.com or wathanya@rivercity.co.th or call (02) 2370077-8 extensions 622/701. Find out more at www.RiverCityBangkok.com.

“Madam Secretary” stars Tea Leoni as Secretary of State Elizabeth “Bess” Adams McCord as she goes about her duties.

In the pilot episode, the newly appointed McCord decides to pursue unsanctioned methods to save two teenagers accused of being spies in Syria. Despite her course of action being unorthodox, she still comes clean to US President Conrad Dalton (Keith Carradine), convincing him to let her think out of the box so she can save both the kids and his reputation.

Likewise, she broaches a sensitive topic with the King of Swaziland during a state dinner by discussing the rising Aids epidemic in his country. To win his cooperation in the matter, she demonstrates her familiarity with the names of his ten wives much to the monarch’s surprise and admiration.

“Madam Secretary” airs every Friday night at 8. For more updates, follow Blue Ant Entertainment at www.facebook.com/BlueAntEntertainment/, @BlueAntEnt on Twitter, and @BlueAntEntertainment on Instagram.

“Ryan Murphy’s series have influenced the global cultural zeitgeist, reinvented genres and changed the course of television history. His unfaltering dedication to excellence and to give voice to the under-represented, to showcase a unique perspective or just to shock the hell out of us, permeates his genre-shattering work,” says Ted Sarandos, chief content officer at Netflix.

“From ‘Nip/Tuck’ – our first licensed series – to American crime story – ‘The People vs OJ. Simpson’ and ‘American Horror Story’, we’ve seen how his brand of storytelling captivates consumers and critics across the globe. His celebrated body of work and his contributions to our industry speak for themselves, and we look forward to supporting Ryan in bringing his broad and diverse stories to the world.”

“The history of this moment is not lost on me,” Murphy adds. “I am a gay kid from Indiana who moved to Hollywood in 1989 with $55 in savings in my pocket, so the fact that my dreams have crystallised and come true in such a major way is emotional and overwhelming. I am awash in genuine appreciation for Ted Sarandos, Reed Hastings and Cindy Holland at Netflix for believing in me and the future of my company, which will continue to champion women, minorities and LGBTQ heroes and heroines, and I am honoured and grateful to continue my partnership with my friends and peers at Fox on our existing shows.”

Murphy’s new original series, “Ratched and The Politician”, will premiere globally on Netflix. Murphy also oversees production on the following series: “American Crime Story”, “American Horror Story”, “Feud”, “911” and the upcoming “Pose”.

The two blockbusters smashed the company’s box office record in Thailand by surpassing “2012”, a disaster movie which had held the company’s top grossing record since 2009. They were among the top 5 highest grossing films in the country’s yearend box office poll, which is calculated on accumulative revenues from total ticket sales at box officees of all multiplex theatres in Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Sony Pictures Entertainment (Thailand) debuted its standalone distribution trade in Thailand in April and quickly became the most lucrative in 20 years for Sony Pictures as a Hollywood movie distributor in the kingdom. Releasing 19 films nationwide last year, the company earned Bt805 million in total.

“Spider-Man” led the pack as a victorious blockbuster racking up more than Bt270 million in tickets sales across country. The young and most visceral webslinger swung high above all previous Spiderman movies ever released in Thailand.

“Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”, the action-fantasy reboot, has earned Bt165 million since its release last December.

Other films that helped generate success were “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter”, “Life”, “Smurfs”, “The Lost Village”, “Dark Tower”, “Baby Driver” and “Blade Runner 2049”.

The small budget sci-fi film “The Arrival” opened the year with Bt40 million. Running not far behind was “The Dark Tower” which earned nearly Bt35-million. “Life” under-performed but still led the box office in Southeast Asia.

“I consider the modest revenue of Bt30 million from “Baby Driver” as a satisfactory contribution since the offbeat teen action-drama has no big stars. “The Resident Evil” prequel garnered Bt120 million from ticket sales. “Blade Runner 2049” hid its sharp blade under Bt50 million,” says Rachata Theerabutr, managing director of Sony Entertainment (Thailand).

“Sony Thailand has ventured into the niche market and found success with rather small but high quality movies such as “T2: Trainspotting”, “20th Century Women”, “Professor Marston & The Wonder Woman” and “Call Me By Your Name”, which screened as part of the arthouse favourites in the “Sony@House campaign, a joint-project between Sony Picture Classic/Tristar Picture and House RCA,” he adds.

“Sony Pictures is a studio that provides high quality and a wide variety film products for every audience. Marketing varies from film to film. For blockbusters cases we deploy the marketing campaign to expand our target audiences outside the core-market and use a different approach for smaller films or arthouse favourites,” says Dujdao Prohmobol, marketing executive director.

Sony Pictures lineup for this year includes the live-action/CGI animations “Peter Rabbit” and “Hotel Transylvania 3: Monster Vacation”. Denzel Washington will be back as a hard hitman in high-octane action sequel “The Equalizer 2”. Also coming up are “Alpha”, Columbia Pictures and Marvels studio’s new project “Venom”, the spooky sequel Goosebumps: Horrorland”, and “The Girl in the Spider’s Web”.

The 11-day event, Europe’s first major cinema showcase of the year, kicked off with the warmly-received world premiere of acclaimed US director Wes Anderson’s new animated feature “Isle of Dogs”.

Actors Bryan Cranston, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Murray, who voice the pack of pooches in the movie, told AFP that the time had come to revolutionise the approach to sex and power.

“I look at it as a great thing that the pillars of misogyny are falling,” Cranston said, expressing shock at the “abhorrent behaviour” that had come to light since more than 100 women accused producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault and rape.

Goldblum, 65, said he was optimistic that “pages are being turned and chapters are being newly conceived” where “equal treatment and empowerment of women” are “the order of the day without exception”.

Murray said the outpouring of anger had given him more empathy for the opposite sex.

“To be a woman is to be sized up at all times, often — it’s animal. And I don’t know if I would enjoy it,” he said.

‘As if nothing happened’

With the industry in turmoil over waves of allegations against powerful industry players, the Berlinale is seeking a delicate balance between Hollywood glamour and frank debate in the wake of Weinstein’s downfall.

But even before the festival opened, controversy erupted over the inclusion of award-winning South Korean director Kim Ki-duk, who was fined in December for assaulting an actress on set.

The actress, who has refused to be publicly identified, has accused the festival — traditionally a strong champion of Asian cinema — of “hypocrisy” for inviting Kim to present his latest picture, “Human, Space, Time and Human”.

Festival director Dieter Kosslick said he had excluded a handful of films because of credible sexual abuse allegations against their directors, screenwriters or stars.

But he told AFP he did not bar Kim because sexual harassment allegations by the same actress against him had been dismissed for lack of evidence, adding that he was seeking more information about an appeal in the case.

“Obviously the Berlinale condemns and opposes any form of violence or sexual misconduct,” Kosslick said.

On Thursday, a coalition of more than 100 South Korean civic groups kept up the pressure, releasing a statement condemning the festival’s stance.

“We are living in this unfair reality in which a physical assault offender is working and being welcomed everywhere as if nothing happened, while the victim who spoke out against the abuse is being isolated and marginalised,” the alliance of about 140 groups said in a joint statement sent to AFP.

Meanwhile an online petition calling for the Berlinale to lay a black carpet instead of a red one as a sign of support for sexual assault and harassment victims drew 21,000 signatures.

The festival rejected the call, but some guests wore black to the “Isle of Dogs” premiere, following a similar solidarity gesture at last month’s Golden Globe awards.

And German actress Anna Brueggemann launched the Twitter hashtag #NobodysDoll to encourage female stars to abandon the high heels and low-cut gowns common at gala screenings for more “comfortable” clothing.

First animated opening film

It was Anderson’s fourth turn in competition for the Berlinale’s Golden and Silver Bear top prizes following “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou”.

Tom Tykwer, one of the German directors behind the blockbuster mini-series “Babylon Berlin” now appearing on Netflix, is leading a gender-balanced jury that will hand out the awards on February 24.

The competition features 19 films, four of them by female directors.

“Isle of Dogs”, which drew enthusiastic applause, was made in the stop-motion style of Anderson’s hit “Fantastic Mr Fox” from 2009.

It was the first animated film to open the Berlinale, now in its 68th year.

Last year, a tender Hungarian love story set in a slaughterhouse, “On Body and Soul” by female director Ildiko Enyedi, captured the Golden Bear. It is now nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign language film.

The nominating committee for the Subhanahongsa awards was not the only one to announce its choices for Thailand’s award season last week. Coming hot on its heels was the Bangkok Critics Assembly, who confirmed “Bad Genius” likely sweep by giving it 11 nods in 10 categories.

But the critics also ramped up the competition, awarding the breakout regional hit “Thai Baan The Series” exactly the same number of nominations.

“#BKKY”, the independent film about teenage life in Bangkok, came home with seven nods including best film and director for Nontawat Numbenchaphol.

Another independent documentary, “Morn Rotfai” (“Railway Sleepers”), was nominated for five awards, including best film and director, drawing with GDH’s “Phuan Thee Raluek” (The Promise).

“Insects in the Backyard” and “Siam Square” were next up with four nods apiece.

Other filmmakers contesting the best director prize are Nattawut Poonpiriya (“Bad Genius”), Thanwarin Sukkhapisit (“Insects in the Backyard”) and Surasak Pongsorn (“Thai Baan The Series”).

While the emphasis from the critics was more on independent productions, the Assembly followed Subhanahongsa in nominating Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying and Chanon Santinatorn kul of “Bad Genius” for best actress and best actor.

“Bad Genius” also scored two nominations for both the supporting actor/actress categories, with Thanet Warakulnukroh of “Pop Aye” also doing well and “Thai Baan The Series” scoring twice for best song.

Jarinporn Joonkiat and Rattanarat Aurthaveekul from “Die Tomorrow” are up for the best actress award, but Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit was left out of the running for a best director nomination.

The only perfomer to be recognised in both the best actress and supporting actress categories is Ploy Sornarin, whose leading role in “15+ IQ Krachood” earns her the best actress nod and her portrayal of a mysterious student girl in “Siam Square” the best supporting actress nomination.

The final selection will be made by members of the assembly and will, as in the past, include a young-filmmaker award.

The ceremony is slated for March 28 but the venue is still to be announced.

In an announcement that will come as no surprise to Thai cinephiles, the hit movie “Chalard Games Gong” (“Bad Genius”) looks set to sweep this year’s Subhanahongsa awards with an impressive 16 nominations in 15 award categories out of a possible 16, missing out only on “Best Original Song”.

The nods are well deserved. Not only did Nattawut Poonpiriya’s caper about students planning to cheat in an international test scheme earn the highest box office takings of 2017, it also did very well in foreign markets, thrilling viewers all over Asia and even making it to the US where it opened the New York Asian Film Festival.

Next in the number of nods is Nawapol Thamrongratanarit’s independent film “Die Tomorrow” with 12 nominations in 11 categories. Directors Nattawut and Nawapol will be competing for the best director prize alongside Tanwarin Sukhaphisit, Nontawat Numbenchaphol and Singaporean director Kirsten Tan who made the charming ThaiSingaporean film “Pop Aye”.

Rookie Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, who played the lead role in “Bad Genius” looks set to win best actress, with her costars Chanon Santinatornkul (best actor), Teeradon Supapunpinyo (best supporting actor) and Eisaya Hosuwan (best supporting actress) also in the running for the big prizes.

Veteran singer/actor Thaneth Warakulnukroh, who just returned to the big screen after a 30-year absence, is up for best supporting actor for his portrayal of an architect facing a mid life crisis in “Pop Aye”. Lee Chatametikool, who edited the film, could score the editing prize.

Actress Eisaya has also been nominated as best actress for her role in the coming-of-age horror “Siam Square” while the ever-popular Sunny Suwanmethanont has received a best actor nod for playing a professional tennis player in the comedy “Mr Hurt Mue Wang Undab Jeb” (“Mr Hurt”). Sunny is up for best supporting actor too for “Die Tomorrow”, which saw him again working with Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit after their successful collaboration on “Freelance: Ham puay… Ham phak… Ham rak mor”.

The horror flick “Siam Square” has done well overall, with its other nominations coming for best screenplay, supporting actor for Nathasit Kotimanuswanich, editing, cinematography, sound, and visual effect.

Thanwarin Sukhaphisit’s 2010 drama “Insects In the Backyard” earned four nods in the best director actor, screenplay and costume categories. “Insects”, originally banned under the provisions of the 2008 Film Act for its subject matter – two teenagers being raised by their transvestite father – finally opened at mainstream cinemas last year after a court battle of seven years.

GDH horror drama “Phuan Thee Raluek” (“The Promise”) received 11 nominations including best film but failed to score in the director and screenplay categories. The GDH film wasn’t well received, leaving the cinema with just Bt35 million, a low for the major studio.

Independent films retained their popularity with three nods for Nontawat Numbenchaphol’s “#BKKY” in the best director, best actress and best recording and mixing sound.

A surprise inclusion is “Thai Baan The Series”, a regional and low-budget production set in the Thailand’s Northeast. It did well at the box office, earning more than Bt28 million, and is nominated for best film, actor, supporting actor, song and original score.

Docu-drama “Niran Ratree” (“Phantom of Illumination”) about a projectionist at a closed-down stand-alone cinema has a nod for best cinematography. Drama-comedy about the ghost in a karaoke jukebox “Premika Paa Raab” has nominations for best costume, visual effects, make up effects and best original song and is competing with the comedy “Som Phak Sian”, the directorial debut of Busarakam Wongkhamlau, daughter of the comedian/director Phethai “Mum Jokmok”.

Despite bombing at the box office, Poj Anon’s zombie film “Kad Krachaak Grean” has two nods – best makeup effects and best original song – while the sweet romance with Hokkaido as a backdrop “Present Perfect Khae Nee Kor Dee Laew” gets a nomination in the original song category.

Action period drama “Nai Thongdee Fun Khao” starring the popular boxer Buakhao Banchamek scored well too, earning nods for best costume design and art direction.

And last but not least, “Khon Plon Winyarn” (“Realms”), which quietly left the box office after a very short run, is in competition for best visual effect.

The year the federation is giving the honourable lifetime achievement award to 1980s’ superstar Soraphong Chatree.

Organised by the Federation of Nation Film Associations of Thailand, the awards ceremony will be held at Thailand Cultural Centre on March 11.